Crazy that DeAndre Hopkins is so underrated right now. Look for him to jump up draft board or surprise these experts come draft day. That guy is a first rounder.

I agree completely, absolutely a 1st rounder and I'd have to problem if the Texans took him or Quinton Patton in the 1st round. Great hands, attacks the ball, great feet, strong, good size, and he's physical.

1. Best overall depth in 10 years. In his opening remarks, Mayock provided the following snapshot of the 2013 draft: Possibly the best overall depth he’s seen in 10 years, not the standard difference-makers in the top 10, and a lot of holes in the quarterbacks. Later, Mayock added that he doesn’t see much of a difference between picks 5 and 25. The Patriots have just five selections in the draft, and perhaps the depth of the draft leads Bill Belichick to seek trade-downs to bolster his draft-day ammunition.

2. One of the best safety classes in years. Mayock views this safety class as one of the best he’s seen. This echoes the thoughts of ESPN’s Todd McShay from last week, who called this a “very deep group of safeties.” One thing to keep in mind on this type of information is that if a team like the Patriots views it the same way, it could affect the level of aggressiveness of potential pursuit of free agents like Ed Reed and/or Charles Woodson. Understanding the areas of strength of the draft, and marrying it to free agency, is an annual exercise in front offices around the NFL.

3. If you like Anquan Boldin … Keenan Allen could be your WR. California receiver Keenan Allen (6-3, 210) drew raves from Mayock, who made the point that if teams are comfortable with Allen’s speed, he could be viewed as an Anquan Boldin-type. But if teams get hung up on speed questions with Allen, that could lead him to slide a bit. Mayock seems to think Allen is a nice fit in the 20-30 range of the first round, citing his size, toughness and ability to get off press coverage, among other things. The Patriots pick at No. 29 and if they inject some size and youth at receiver, Allen could be a player on their radar if he slides (which could happen if he doesn’t run sub-4.5 in the 40 at the combine).

4. Just one cornerback with first-round grade at this time. When Mayock shared some of his prospects with first-round grades, he highlighted six offensive tackles, six defensive tackles, two receivers and one cornerback. The light cornerback class after Alabama’s Dee Milliner was notable from this perspective because it could be an area of interest for the Patriots. Mayock said Mississippi State’s Johnthan Banks could work his way into the first round by running well at the combine. One other point from Mayock that adds good context for this time of year: cornerbacks and receivers are “true speed positions” and the combine is where teams look for the an accurate gauge of their speed.

5. Chance Warmack – best player on tape. Mayock said that Alabama guard Chance Warmack is the best player he’s seen on tape this year. He put Warmack, Texas A&M left tackle Luke Joeckel, Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher and North Carolina guard Jonathan Cooper as the four players who the Chiefs would be deciding between with the No. 1 overall pick.

5. Chance Warmack – best player on tape. Mayock said that Alabama guard Chance Warmack is the best player he’s seen on tape this year. He put Warmack, Texas A&M left tackle Luke Joeckel, Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher and North Carolina guard Jonathan Cooper as the four players who the Chiefs would be deciding between with the No. 1 overall pick.
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(1) Warmack may be his highest rated player in this Draft, but the Chiefs won't ge taking him #1 nor will anybody else. Tell me just one guard or center who was a top 5 pick in the Draft ? Ever ? So forget about even top 5, let alone #1.
(2) Is WR Hopkins really that good ? I've never seen him play ?

5. Chance Warmack – best player on tape. Mayock said that Alabama guard Chance Warmack is the best player he’s seen on tape this year. He put Warmack, Texas A&M left tackle Luke Joeckel, Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher and North Carolina guard Jonathan Cooper as the four players who the Chiefs would be deciding between with the No. 1 overall pick.
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(1) Warmack may be his highest rated player in this Draft, but the Chiefs won't ge taking him #1 nor will anybody else. Tell me just one guard or center who was a top 5 pick in the Draft ? Ever ? So forget about even top 5, let alone #1.
(2) Is WR Hopkins really that good ? I've never seen him play ?

Hopkins is a playmaker, plain and simple. He's no megatron or Andre Johnson from what I have seen, but he's my favorite receiver in this draft by a long shot. I wouldn't expect him to run real fast. Maybe between 4.45 and 4.55, but he really goes after the ball when it is in the air and he has a tendency to beat his man. He's not slow by any means but don't expect a blazing time at the combine.

Hopkins is a playmaker, plain and simple. He's no megatron or Andre Johnson from what I have seen, but he's my favorite receiver in this draft by a long shot. I wouldn't expect him to run real fast. Maybe between 4.45 and 4.55, but he really goes after the ball when it is in the air and he has a tendency to beat his man. He's not slow by any means but don't expect a blazing time at the combine.

Speaking of which, does anyone know what Hopkins real height is? I've seen him listed anywhere between 5'11" and 6'1". Don't know who or what to believe, but it could make a difference where he's drafted. And, if he is only 5'11" he better have more than 4.5 speed or he could drop to the 2nd round or later.

(1) Warmack may be his highest rated player in this Draft, but the Chiefs won't ge taking him #1 nor will anybody else. Tell me just one guard or center who was a top 5 pick in the Draft ? Ever ? So forget about even top 5, let alone #1.

You have to go back awhile, but in 1975 Ken Huff was drafted #3 overall by the Colts to play guard. A couple of years earlier, John Hannah was taken #4 by the Pats. It's not common and it won't happen this year. Unless it does.

Dean Steinkuhler was an Outland award winning guard for Nebraska. But he was taken #2 overall by the Oilers in 1984 to play tackle.

Speaking of which, does anyone know what Hopkins real height is? I've seen him listed anywhere between 5'11" and 6'1". Don't know who or what to believe, but it could make a difference where he's drafted. And, if he is only 5'11" he better have more than 4.5 speed or he could drop to the 2nd round or later.

He looks about 6'1". The most common height I see is 6' and the most common weight I see is 200 lbs. We shall see once the combine gets going.

You have to go back awhile, but in 1975 Ken Huff was drafted #3 overall by the Colts to play guard. A couple of years earlier, John Hannah was taken #4 by the Pats. It's not common and it won't happen this year. Unless it does.

Dean Steinkuhler was an Outland award winning guard for Nebraska. But he was taken #2 overall by the Oilers in 1984 to play tackle.

Way, way back in the '70s the league barely knew what a forward pass was when compared to the pass-happy offenses of the modern NFL. Accordingly they didn't have to worry about protecting the QB in the pocket until the game started to go airborne, and then along came L.Taylor and OTs protecting the edge became much more valuable while interior Olineman (guards & centers) who were primarily run-blockers.
The one interior Olineman I seem to recall getting really big bucks and big headlines was the free agency deal the Vikings pulled off to steal guard Steve Hutchinson from the Seahawks, and even that situation was 'bout 20 years ago.

Way, way back in the '70s the league barely knew what a forward pass was when compared to the pass-happy offenses of the modern NFL. Accordingly they didn't have to worry about protecting the QB in the pocket until the game started to go airborne, and then along came L.Taylor and OTs protecting the edge became much more valuable while interior Olineman (guards & centers) who were primarily run-blockers.
The one interior Olineman I seem to recall getting really big bucks and big headlines was the free agency deal the Vikings pulled off to steal guard Steve Hutchinson from the Seahawks, and even that situation was 'bout 20 years ago.

Ha ha ha! 20 years ago! It was in 2006 when the Vikes used a "poison pill" in the FA contract offered to Hutchinson that Seattle couldn't match. He played last season for the "tacks."

Ha ha ha! 20 years ago! It was in 2006 when the Vikes used a "poison pill" in the FA contract offered to Hutchinson that Seattle couldn't match. He played last season for the "tacks."

Wow ! I really pulled those dates out of my azz ! Don't know where they came from, but big Steve was only 'bout 15 when he got that big FA deal with the Vikings, according to my numbers.
Thanks for setting me straight there, Insideop.

Wow ! I really pulled those dates out of my azz ! Don't know where they came from, but big Steve was only 'bout 15 when he got that big FA deal with the Vikings, according to my numbers.Thanks for setting me straight there, Insideop.

No problem! I find the older we get the more time becomes a complete blur!

5. Chance Warmack – best player on tape. Mayock said that Alabama guard Chance Warmack is the best player he’s seen on tape this year. He put Warmack, Texas A&M left tackle Luke Joeckel, Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher and North Carolina guard Jonathan Cooper as the four players who the Chiefs would be deciding between with the No. 1 overall pick.
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(1) Warmack may be his highest rated player in this Draft, but the Chiefs won't ge taking him #1 nor will anybody else. Tell me just one guard or center who was a top 5 pick in the Draft ? Ever ? So forget about even top 5, let alone #1.
(2) Is WR Hopkins really that good ? I've never seen him play ?

The highest off the top of my head was Mike Munchak #8 in 82. That said, if you draft a OG number one, he better be the second coming of Munchak, Steve Hutchinson, Larry Allen, Randall McDaniel, or Gene Upshaw.

The highest off the top of my head was Mike Munchak #8 in 82. That said, if you draft a OG number one, he better be the second coming of Munchak, Steve Hutchinson, Larry Allen, Randall McDaniel, or Gene Upshaw.

I agree, nobody drafts a G that highly in the first round unless they have plans on moving him to tackle. If Warmack fell that far to the Texans he'd certainly have to be close to the highest BPA at that spot for sure.

The NT depth and the WR depth are both very very intriguing for this years draft. OLB, meh not so much, ILB has some decent looking guys, and Safety seems to have a lot of decent prospects. Also I like a lot of the OT's coming out too, but I have to say WR is definitely the most intriguing class to me in terms of what the Texans have a shot at getting.